Lath-weaving machine



H. E. LAW AND E. POOLER.

LATH WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1918.

v I Eatented Apr. 13

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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19a vezziaz s flrber Elias/Mai Law 3 Ed?! P001874 H. E. LAW AND E. POOLER.

LATH WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1918.

133631358 Patented Apr. 13, 1920-,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HERBERT EDWARD LAWiAND EARL 'POOLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LATI-I-WEAVING' MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filedJune 1, 1918. Serial No. 237,805.

To' all whom 2'1- may concern Be it known that we, HERBERT EDWARD LAW and EARL POOLER, citizens of" the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lath-Weaving Machines, of which the following is a specificat on.

This invention relates to a weaving machine, and particularly pertains to a loom for weaving slat screens.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine of simple construction, bywhich slats spaced relation to each other and bound in this position by flexible wire binders so that slat screens may be readily constructed in an economical manner.

The present invention contemplates the use of manually operated clamping means forpositioning the slats successively in predetermined relation to each other and other manually operated means for binding the slats in this position within a continuously operating machine, thus insuring that the slats may be combinedto form screens of any desired length or width. The construction here involved also embodies means for tensioning the warp strands used in binding the slats.

The invention is illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings; in which- Figure l is a view in plan, disclosing the entire operating mechanism of the loom'and the disposition of the particular woven screen therein;

Fig. '2 is a view in end elevation; illus tratin'g the operating end "of the loom' and further disclosing the means for actuating the weaving and clamping mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical'section taken on the-line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating the twisting member for the warp strands" and disclosing one of the slats in its clamped position: V 7

Fig.4 is a View similar to that shown in F ig.3 taken on the line 4 4of Fig. 1, disclosing the clamping members in their separated ositions.

eferring'morenparticularly to the draw ings,' 10' indicates a sub-structure, upon which .a horizontally extending reel" rod 11 is mounted as well as a supporting platform may be arranged in parallel comprising bars 12 upon which a slat screen 13 is carried. The screen as formed-is supported by the bars 12 along one side of a weaving element 14- whichcomprises a series of wrapping mandrels 15, 16 and'l'7.

As here shown there are three of these mandrels employed, although it is understood that any number may be used as determined by the length of the slats. The wrapping mandrels are disposed in relation to each other and are rotatably mounted upon'rails 18 and 19 which extend longitudinally of the sub-frame l0 and carry bearing boxes 20. These boxes receive the opposite ends of the mandrels and prevent lateral motion thereof by means of fixed collars 21 secured between the rails and upon the mandrels.

The mandrel construction is particularly shown in Fig. 3 where it will be seen to comprise a tubular body portion 22, of cylindrical formation, within which space parallel warp strand tubes 24 and 25 are positioned. These tubes or passageways are diametrically opposite to each other within the main mandrel and terminate at their outer ends adjacent to openings 26 in the opposite side walls of'the mandrels.

hese openings provide a passageway for the warp strands which are then led out wardly through diametrically disposed openings 27 in a circular flange 28 formed upon the outer end of the mandrel. The space between the openings 27 insures that upon rotation of the mandrel the warp strands 29 and 30 will be tightly twisted around the lath member 31.

he warp strands E29- and 30 are led to the mandrels from complementary feed drums 32'and These drums are rotatablymounted upon the reel shaft 11 and are provided with'special tensioning means so thatthe warp strands will always be held undera definite strain. This means compriseshelically-Wound springs 34: which circumscribe the rod and bear at their outer ends against stop collars The opposite ends of the springs bear against the hubs of the reels. As the springs have been compressed between the collars 35 and the hubs, sufficient friction will be obtained to retard the rotation of the reel drums and thus permit them to be always held against the drawing power or" the warp strands.

The winding mandrels are simultaneously rotated by means of a winding shaft 36 which is carried in suitable bearings above and between the frame rails 18 and 19. This shaft is provided with a of either miter or worm gear design which mesh with complementary gears 38 fixed upon the mandrels and between thev two bearings. In this manner rotation of the mandrels may be produced by actuation of the crank 39. This rotation is limited, however, by an adjustable stop member 40 which is in the form of a nut and is mounted upon a threaded portion ll secured to the shaft 36. This nut is formed with the extending portion traveling along a guideway :2 by which its rotation is prevented and at the end of which an adjustable setsc'rew 43 is positioned. It will thus be seen that rotation of the shaft 36 will cause the advance and retraction of the nut i0 and will more it toward and away from the set-screw. When it encounters this screw its forward movement will be stopped and movement in the opposite direction may then be had until the extension upon the nut strikes the opposite end of the guideway. In this manner a predetermined number of twists may be imparted to the warp strands between each of the slats.

Acting independently in relation to the turning mandrels are clamping arms as and 45. These arms are L6 and 4-7 disposed one above and the other beneath the path of travel of the finished screen. The opposite ends of these shafts are suitably journaled within bearings l8 carried upon the opposite ends of the subframe.

As here shown the sets are disposed to correspond to the position of the winding mandrels and thus clamp the lath adjacent to the twisting point of the warp strands. bers are in reality arms fixed in relation to the shafts by set-screws 49 and have flattened prongs at their outer ends to lie parallel to each other upon the top and bottom sides of the lath when clamping. The upper one of the arms is provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending lug which is adapted to pass down along the side of the lath to the twisting members and to hold it in rigid relation to the warp twist upon its opposite side as well as to prevent it from being drawn toward the twisting mandrels during their operation. The movement of the clamping arms is effected by the downward actuation of a foot treadle 51. as particularly shown in Fig. 2. This treadle is provided with a connecting rod 52 which extends upwardly and engages a lever 53 fixed upon the end of shaft 47. Simultaneous motion is imparted to the upper shaft by means of a of clamping arms series of gears 37' chine.

means of an actuating handle 57 secured fixed to parallel shafts These clamping mem-- pair of segmental gears 54 and 55 secured upon ad acent ends of the two shafts and in 'mesh, so that rotation of the lower gear by the lever 53 will produce rotation of the upper shaft and draw the two clamping arms together upon the opposite sides of the lath.

To hold the slats in uniform relation to each other, guide channels and 61 are provided at the opposite ends of the ma- The channel 60 is formed and disposed to allow the end of the slat to pass thereunder when placed within the machine while the channel 61 is provided to receive the opposite slat end after it has been woven into the screen.

.As a means for positively forcing the lath into fixed relation to each other and insuring that the warp strands will firmly hold them against removal, pressure arms 56 are provided. In the present instance four are used and they are spaced at convenient points along the length of the lath. These arms are here shown as being horizontally slidable and as having upwardly extending end lugs 57 adapted to encounter the sides ofthe newly inserted lath strip. These members may be simultaneously moved toward and awayfrom this lath by to the end of a shaft 58.

In the present instance this shaft is provided with a series of downwardly extending lever, arms 59 which pass through slotted openings in the pressure arms 56 and engage these arms in a manner to force them forwardly when swung in a similar direction. For convenience the operating handle 57, the twisting crank 39, and the foot 'treadle 51 are all positioned at one end of the machine, so that a single workman may insert the separate lath between the warp strands and thereafter clamp them in place as well as perform the twisting operation of the warp strands.

c In operation, the reels 32 and 33 which supply the twisting mandrels, are properly supplied with warp strands which are thereafter threaded separately through the tubular passageways 24 and 25 of each mandrel. 15

The outer ends are then passed outwardly through the openings 26 in the walls of the mandrel and then through the openings 2? in the end flanges 28. The mechanism is then ready for operation.

In starting, the complementary ends of i the. warp strands may be twisted together by pliers and as they are held in separated relation to each other by the remote disposition of "the openings 27 intheir rela- 1 tion to each other, a sufiicient angular opening willbe formed to allow a slat member 31 to be'inserted. After this member has been inserted the clamping handle 57 may be swung in the cirection indicated by the i arrow a in Fig. 2. This will swing the lever arms 59 forwardly and force the pressure arms 56 against the lath.

After this operation has been completed the foot treadle may be depressed and the two clamping arms simultaneously drawn to bind the lath in position. When this is done the lugs will overhang the inner end of the lath and, due to its inner wedge face, will force it into its intended position in relation to the twisted warp strands. The crank 39 may then be rotated in either direction as limited by the set-screw 43 and the stopping nut 40. During this rotation the mandrels will be simultaneously rotated in a single direction and will, therefore, twist the warp strands to form a loop and to weave the slat into the screen.

After the movement of the mandrels has been limited by the adjusting mechanism previously referred to, another slat may be inserted between the warp strands and a reverse movement of the mandrels effected. This will twist the warp strands and add another lath ,to the screen being formed. It will be understood that successive operations will form a lath screen of any desired length and that the machine will be designed to build screens of any width and having warp strands of any number woven into its structure.

The twist of the warp strands may be readily determined by the tension of the spring members 34 as they retard the rotation of the reels, thus insuring that a screen of any desired flexibility may be formed and that each of the slats will be firmly fastened in position in relation to the twisted strands.

. lVhile we have shown the preferred form of our invention as now known to us, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An apparatus for weaving and uniting wires and slats or laths, including a table upon which the laths are supported in parallel lines, reels supported in pairs containing wire coils, spiral springs acting against the reels to provide a tension upon the wires being drawn therefrom, transversely turnable mandrels, means by which they are turned to twist the passing wires, guides by which the ends of the laths are evenly retained, pressure arms and clamping arms, said clamping arms having fiat surfaces to press upon the laths, and also having beveled hook-shaped ends to engage and draw the laths into contact with the twisted wires, and segmental gears with crank arms, connecting rods and treadle to actuate the clamping arms and the laths.

2. An apparatus for weaving and uniting wires and slats or laths, including a table upon which the laths are supported in parallel lines, reels supported in pairs and containing wire coils, spiral springs acting against the reels to produce a tension upon the wires being drawn therefrom, transversely turnable mandrels, means by which they are turned to twist the passing wires, guides by which the ends of the laths are evenly retained, pressure arms and clamping arms, said clamping arms having flat surfaces to press upon the laths and also having beveled hook-shaped ends to engage the laths, and means to cause the hookshaped ends to draw the laths into contact with the junction of the twisted wires.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT EDWARD LAW. EAR-L POOLER. lVitnesses H. H. FEIGHNER,

EVALINE L. EDMUNDS. 

